Local vessel catches rare albino haddock
A VERY rare albino or ‘golden’ haddock was caught by a Shetland vessel last week.
Whitefish trawler Alison Kay LK57 caught the elusive fish 16 miles south of Foula.
Crew member Terry Laurenson told Shetland News: “This was the first I have seen one of these rare haddocks in my 25 years at sea.
“I have only ever seen one other species of fish like this back in 2015 which was a monk fish which was caught north of Flugga fishing grounds.”
A fish shop in St Monans, Fife, then bought the haddock at the market in Peterhead.
The owners put it on display, giving customers the rare chance to see the fish.
The shop is planning on freezing the fish and then donating it to researchers, as little is known about their condition.
The fish have little or no pigment and so they are white with a golden tinge.
Two albino haddocks were previously caught by Shetland trawler Resilient, in 2016 and 2017.
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